TRIESTE – FS Logistix, through its German subsidiary TX Logistik, and Dutch operator Van der Vlist have developed a solution that makes it possible to transport out-of-gauge loads using regular intermodal trains already in operation.
The first application of the service involved the transfer of two aerial work platforms from the Quadrante Europa terminal in Verona to Rostock, Germany. From there, the vehicles continued by ferry to Trelleborg, Sweden, and then by road to their final destination.
The innovative element of the project is the possibility of placing exceptional machinery and vehicles on scheduled intermodal trains, avoiding the need to organise special trains and reducing timeframes and operational complexity.
The cargo is handled using a new system patented by Van der Vlist, called bolster, a special platform that allows large vehicles such as excavators, aerial work platforms and agricultural machinery that cannot be loaded into traditional containers to be secured and transported safely.
The service uses the “Large Intermodal Profile” authorisation, which allows the transport of units up to 2,990 millimetres wide on intermodal trains within the P400 rail profile. Compared with special trains, the solution ensures greater operational flexibility, as trains can be diverted along alternative routes in the event of works or disruptions without requiring new authorisations.
TX Logistik currently connects Rostock and Verona with eight train pairs per week, creating a rail axis between Italy, Germany and Scandinavia. The next phase of the project involves extending the service to domestic rail connections in Sweden through TX Logistik AB and developing additional European corridors dedicated to the intermodal transport of exceptional loads.
The initiative aims to expand the rail transport market for non-standard vehicles and machinery, offering a more sustainable and flexible alternative to traditional long-distance road transport.
